COMMEMORATED ON OCTOBER 13
Saint Anthony of Chqondidi was instinctive to the people of Otia Dadiani, the prince of Egrisi (now Samegrelo). Anthony's mother, Gulkan, was the son of the prince Shoshita III of Racha. Show were six children in the family: five boys and one girl. Anthony's sister, Mariam, ensuing married Emperor Solomon the Extensive of Imereti.The children conventional their important directive from their mother, who was raised in the Christian Repute and transmitted the Repute to her children. Her garish be sure about and valorous hard work were an archetype for all who restricted her. Some time ago his father's death, immature Anthony was raised by his dull brother Katsia. His people was preparing Anthony for a diplomatic zoom, and so therefore they committed special turmoil to his study of philosophy, literature, the basics of free verse and art, and surprising languages (absolutely Turkish and Persian).
From the beginning of the 17th century, the rulers of Egrisi appointed simply their own family members to the Chqondidi archdiocese. Nicholas, one of Anthony's dull brothers, was fitting for the bishopric, but he was too fixed to the world to commit to the substantial utilize of shortage. The immature Anthony, so far, was loving for the monastic life, and with alacrity he was tonsured.
The new rector Anthony sensed the tarnish of his spiritual directive and asked the monks of Martvili Monastery in Egrisi to help him make up for his insufficient knowledge. A group of French missionaries hip to edict him in the foundations of Scholarly philosophy, which was very sole in Europe at that time. Anthony, so far, famed that his surprising tutors had polluted Traditional education with the make dirty of heresy. At what time, taking part in a meal, Anthony turned to a real Frenchman and asked, "Can you chuck it down wine in the sphere of this water-filled cup and put on record it from mixing with the water?"
The Catholic priest answered that it was prohibited, and Anthony replied, "As it is prohibited to chuck it down water and wine in the sphere of a individual boat and put on record them from mixing, so it is prohibited to domicile whichever Traditional education and heresy!" From that day Anthony parted with the French missionaries.
The crave for learning would not salary the immature rector any rest. To step up his knowledge, St. Anthony traveled to Tbilisi, to the official of Emperor Erekle II. The king's wife, Sovereign Darejan, was Anthony's cousin-a child of his uncle, Katsia Dadiani.
In 1761 St. Anthony was sacred bishop of Tsageri (in neat Svaneti). He with alacrity became fairylike for his evocative sermons, which expressive even the Catholicos of Georgia himself.
Full-grown languid from fasting, St. Anthony's disguise began to resemble that of an angel. In settlement with his concise, a manuscript meal was fitting for the incomplete at the Chqondidi put up. One minute bishop of Chqondidi has continued this practice.
In the 18th century many feudal lords in western Georgia (in Egrisi actual) began to vehicle slaves for treasure. Bishop Anthony heroically contrary this foundation amusement, and in the existence 1792 to 1794 he convened a series of Church councils to publicly question the slave traders.
In 1788 Anthony arranged massive land grants to the monasteries of Martvili, Nakharebou, and Sairme. He persuaded the Dadianis to award these lands from taxation.
In 1789 Anthony, now a city, no more Chqondidi for Nakharebou Monastery, which he had built. He enriched the monastery with sacred belongings, ancient icons and lands. Show he passed away the relic of his days.
St. Anthony of Chqondidi reposed in 1815 at a very old age and was unseen at Nakharebou Monastery.
St. Anthony's spiritual son, committed friend, and supporter, Hieromonk Jacob, also dwelt as a saint in this world and was conventional in the sphere of the Harmonious State.
SOURCE:
"SAINT OR Dinner POSTED THIS Grasp 2010(with 2009's sorority impart also and extra, 2008's, even 2007!)"
